Method and means for applying matrix band



April 1962 w. e. HAZLETT 3,028,673

METHOD AND MEANS FOR APPLYING MATRIX BAND Filed March 11, 1959 Will/27m 6. Hal/eff I INVENTOR. Mm BY ymy 5M United States Patent Qhfice 3,028,673 Patented Apr. 10, 1962 3,028,673 METHQD AND MEANS FOR APPLYING MATRIX BAND William G. Hazlett, 35 San Buena Ventura Way, San Francisco, Calif. Filed Mar. 11, 1959, Ser. No. 798,737 4 Claims. (Cl. 3263) The present invention relates to a novel method and means which dentists may employ in utilizing a conventional-type matrix band, that is, when bringing the band into use preparatory to pursuing certain tooth-filling procedures such as wedging and separating.

As is well-known many and varied styles and types of slack take-up matrix hand tools or clamps, as they are better known, are currently being used by dentists. Matrix band clamps range from 2 to 3 inches in length. It follows that when readied and in place in the mouth the clamp is held out of the corner of the mouth so to speak. Sometimes it is necessary to use a number of such clamps and manifestly they get in the way of the operator and render the procedures of wedging, separating and filling extremely difficult and perplexing. It is also common knowledge that any flexing of the patients lips or tongue tends to dislodge the matrix band. The problem which is being recognized here is what to do about clearing the field of operation so that the dentist may proceed with the recommended filling steps without undue hindrance. It follows that it is an object in the instant presentation to resort to the method steps herein disclosed which will make it possible to remove the unwieldy and cumbersome band clamps or devices and yet to be able to secure the matrix band to the tooth so that there will be no interference with wedging, separating, and subsequent fill ing steps.

The problem also presents the additionally recognized difficulty that relatively long and cumbersome band clamps, being what they are, only one or sometimes two can be placed on the same quadrant of the mouth at the same time. It follows that the invention at bar has to do with a simple, practical and economical collar which is also in effect a miniature or tiny clamp, and which allows the use of a matrix on each tooth of any part of the mouth simultaneously without the presence of bulky projecting separating clamps which so noticeably interfere with wedging separating and filling. It is common to have as many as four matrix bands on four adjacent posterior teeth simultaneously, that is, when the invention at bar is used. Taking into account the introduction of high speed drills (air and water turbines, hand pieces and the like) more and more dentists are doing what has become to be known as quadrant dentistry. This has to do with the practice wherein four or more cavities in a row can be handled at about the same time. In this connection the present invention allows the installing of multiple matrices and the placement of multiple filling restorations thereby increasing the efficiency and productivity of the operator. In addition, the invention is intended to, and does, add greatly to the comfort of the patient inasmuch as bulky hanging matrix holders restrict and irritate the cheeks, lips and tongue.

Briefly, in carrying out the principles of the method and also in reducing the invention to practice the improved band-end binding and retaining collar is placed over the ends of the band after the band has been looped upon itself and partly and loosely around the tooth. A standard type matrix band clamp is placed over the band ends and locked. The band is now slipped over the tooth and drawn tight by the standard-type matrix band clamp. By using a suitable small wrench a setscrew, which is provided on the improved retainer collar is then tightened, thereby securing the matrix band on the tooth. Consequently, the standard matrix clamp can now be removed, allowing a clear field to proceed with the wedging, separating, and filling steps. Taking one or more objectionably present matrix band clamps out of the picture, so to speak, has been the incentive which gave rise to the present desire to advance the art under advisement.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the loosely applied loop portion of the matrix band and also showing the undesirably long clamp at the right and the intervening improved band embracing, binding, and retainingcollar.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the operational step or procedure after the loop has been wrapped tightly and atwhich time the wrench is applied to set the setscrew and prepare for the next step.

FIG. 3 shows the third or next step, that is after the clamp has been removed and the surplus end portions or terminals of the band have been clipped off to clear the field of operation.

FIG. 4 is a section on an enlarged scale taken approximately on the plane of the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the particular part of the invention which stands out; namely, the simple but important band-end embracing and binding or retainer collar.

Attention is directed first to FIGS. 4 and 5 wherein the novel retaining collar is shown. The expression collar has been used here to avoid duplication of use of the expression clamp. In any event the one-piece noncorrodible rigid metal lightweight collar is denoted by the numeral 6 and is of endless form, one end of which is denoted at 8 and the other at 10. The side portions thereof are denoted at 12 and 14 respectively. The interior surface 16, that is the median portion thereof as at 18 (FIG. 4) has an indentation or a shallow seat formed therein for the slightly conical or pointed end 20 of a setscrew 22. The setscrew is threaded through a hole 24 provided in the side member 12 and the setscrew itself is provided with a polygonal socket 26 to accommodate the shank 28 of a suitable tool or wrench 30 which is employed for tightening and loosening the setscrew.

The aforementioned standard or conventional so-called matrix band clamp or draw-up device is denoted at 32 in FIGS. 1 and 2. Since this is a well known type of a clamp on the market it is unnecessary here to show the details of construction. The construction is such that the terminal end portions 34 of the matrix band 36 may be operatively connected thereto in the manner shown and is locked by the screw 38. Before the clamp 32 is applied the end portions of the loop of the band are threaded through the opening provided therefor and are overlapped in the manner denoted at 40 in FIG. 4. As before stated the wrench 30 is used to tighten the setscrew 22 and the band, assuming that the band has been tightly wrapped around the circumference of the tooth A as shown in FIG. 3. The next step is to cut olf the excess end portions 34 using (not shown) suitable crown shears. FIG. 3 shows the matrix band held only by the improved clamping collar the standard clamp 32 having been removed and leaving the field free for wedging, compounding and filling procedures. It is possible to install multiple matrices at the same time as there is no in-the-way clamp blocking access to the field of operation and teeth which are adjacent to each other.

One advantage of the invention FIG. 5 is that it is such that it may be used in conjunction with many of the types 9 u or forms of matrix band clamps or tools which are on the market.

It is believed that the structural aspect, concept and also the steps involved in the technique or method are reasonably clear now that the essential aspects thereof have been revealed. Under the circumstances a more restricted explanation of the invention is thought to be unnecessary.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A matrix band formed for looping around a tooth having a prepared cavity extending to a side thereof, said band when looped having overlapped free ends, the ends being in substantial parallelism and in contacting relationship, and being adapted to provide a rigid form wall for supporting amalgam under pressure, a collar having an elongated opening dimensioned for and receiving the overlapping free ends of said band therethrough, a first means formed for andsecured to said ends and bearing against said collar for drawing said ends simultaneously through said collar for equally stressing opposite sides of said band symmetrical to the center plane defined between said overlapping ends, and second means carried by said collar and engaging a portion of the overlapped ends of the band and locking said band while so stressed in said collar to maintain said band under tension around said tooth upon subsequent removal of said first means.

2. A matrix band formed for looping around a tooth having a prepared cavity extending to a side thereof, said band when looped having overlapped free ends, the ends being in substantial parallelism and in contacting relationship, and being adapted to provide a rigid form wall for supporting amalgam under pressure, a collar having an elongated opening dimensioned for and receiving the overlapping free ends of said band therethrough, a first means formed for and secured to said ends and bearing against said collar for drawing said ends simultaneously through said collar for equally stressing opposite sides of said band symmetrical to the center plane defined between said overlapping ends, and manually operable means carried by said collar and engaging a portion of the overlapped ends of the band and locking said band while so stressed in said collar to maintain said band under tension around said tooth upon subsequent removal of said first means, said manually operable means applying an additional tension to the overlapped ends when operated to lock the said ends in the collar.

3. A matrix band formed for looping of a midportion around a tooth having a prepared cavity extending to a side thereof with overlapping free ends of said band extending therefrom, the overlapping ends being in substantial parallelism and in contacting relationship, said band being adapted to provide a rigid form wall for supporting amalgam under pressure, a collar having an elongated opening dimensioned for and receiving said overlapping free ends therethrough, a first means formed for and secured to said ends and bearing against said collar for drawing said ends simultaneously through said collar for equally stressing opposite sides of said band symmetrical to a center plane extending between said overlapping ends, and a set screw threaded in an anterior side of said collar and having an inner end bearing upon and locking said band while so stressed in said collar to maintain said band under tension around said tooth upon subsequent removal of said first means.

4. A dental technique which consists in a first step of doubling a flexible matrix band upon itself to provide a loop extendable around the circumference of a selected tooth with the ends of the band free but overlapped and being in substantial parallelism and in contacting relationship, a second step of threading the free ends of said band through a collar, a third step of drawing said ends simultaneously with a take-up device through said collar with said loop positioned around said tooth for equally stres ing opposite sides of said band symmetrical to a center plane defined between said overlapping ends, a fourth step of locking said ends while so stressed in said collar to maintain said band under tension around said tooth, and a fifth step of removing said device from said band after locking as foresaid leaving said locked band on said tooth.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,906,128 Alexander Apr. 25, 1933 2,575,800 Eicher Nov. 20, 1951 2,727,720 Barth Dec. 20, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 979,259 France Dec. 6. 1950 

